Risk factors of gastric precancerous lesions in a high-risk Colombian population. II. Nitrate and nitrite.
Gastric nitrite content was studied in relation to precancerous lesions of the stomach in a case-control study conducted in a high-risk Colombian population. The proportion of detectable nitrite in gastric juice and the mean pH were significantly higher among those with precancerous lesions (chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and dysplasia) than among the controls (normal and superficial gastritis); the proportion and mean pH increased with the progression of histological changes from normal to dysplasia. Nitrite was not detectable in gastric juice with a pH less than 5.0. A positive association was found between the proportion of detectable nitrite and the risk of gastric precancerous lesions. Odds ratios of 4.39 for intestinal metaplasia and 24.72 for dysplasia remained significant after controlling for confounders. This finding suggests that nitrite may be a precursor of a mutagen that targets gastric epithelial cells.
Chen
V W
VW
Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans 70112.
Abu-Elyazeed
R R
RR
Zavala
D E
DE
Haenszel
W
W
Ktsanes
V K
VK
Rice
J
J
Cuello
C
C
Montes
G
G
Correa
P
P
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000032:analysis; D005756:Gastritis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009566:Nitrates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*
D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites